Beef Update
Brendan Golden said the EU Commission cannot defend current or future trade agreements when it shows that by 2030 beef imports into the EU can increase by up to 100,000t and in the process reduce beef prices for Irish and EU farmers by a further 2.2%, in a sector that is already accepted as extremely vulnerable and operating on a below cost basis.
He said this week factories are slowing the kill and attempting to ease prices with some quoting €3.80/kg for heifers. Most cattle are moving at a base of €3.80 for steers and €3.85/kg for heifers.
Beef Price Update 04/02/2021
Steer base €3.80/kg. Heifers €3.80/3.85kg. Deals higher. Y Bulls R/U €3.75/3.95kg. Cows €3.00/3.60kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – Week 4 (25/01/2021)
| Animal | Number | Change prev. wk. | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 3578 | ▲163 | 11% | 14337 | ▼-5,183 |
| Bull | 370 | ▲103 | 1% | 1251 | ▼-585 |
| Steer | 10548 | ▼-146 | 34% | 43377 | ▼-972 |
| Cow | 6511 | ▲110 | 21% | 25560 | ▲1,762 |
| Heifer | 10136 | ▼-422 | 32% | 42862 | ▼-874 |
| Veal-V | 24 | ▲6 | 0% | 78 | ▲5 |
| Veal-Z | 46 | ▲16 | 0% | 141 | ▲11 |
| Total | 31213 | ▼-170 | 100% | 127606 | ▼-5,836 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – Week 4 (25/01/2021)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev. wk. | R3 | Change prev. wk. | O3 | Change prev. wk. | P+3 | Change prev. wk. |
| Steers | 413 | ▼-2 | 404 | ▲0 | 387 | ▼-2 | 356 | ▼-2 |
| Heifers | 423 | ▲0 | 409 | ▼-2 | 396 | ▼-1 | 354 | ▲3 |
| Y Bulls | 394 | ▼-2 | 382 | ▼-2 | 370 | ▼-2 | 355 | ▼-6 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 342 | ▼-4 | 318 | ▼-3 | 307 | ▼-3 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| Steers | Steers | Heifers | Heifers | Young bull | Young bull | Cow | |
| p/kg | R3 | R4L | R3 | R4L | R3 | R4L | -O4L |
| 23.01.2021 | 383.4 | 387.4 | 382.7 | 386.1 | 373.1 | 365.5 | 262.6 |
| 30.01.2021 | 383.6 | 387.1 | 383 | 386.1 | 371.4 | 361.5 | 264.2 |
| Change | ▲0 | ▼-0 | ▲0 | ▲0 | ▼-2 | ▼-4 | ▲2 |
| Price in c/kg (incl. VAT) | 455.1 | 459.3 | 454.4 | 458.1 | 440.7 | 428.9 | 313.5 |
Sheep Update
Sean Dennehy said dog attacks remain a significant problem and can devastate the farmers whose sheep suffer an attack. Sean Dennehy said there must be better enforcement of existing legislation around dog ownership; more stringent fines for dog attacks; increased funding for the dog warden service; and a single database for microchipped dogs. All farm animals are fully traceable, and dogs should also be.
Lamb Price Update 04/02/2021
QA Hoggets €6.20/6.40kg paid. Deals for groups and larger lots. Ewes €2.85/3.20kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – Week 4 (25/01/2021)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 38021 | ▼-7,497 | 175137 | ▼-3,409 |
| Spring Lambs | 0 | ▲0 | 0 | ▲0 |
| Ewes and Rams | 5638 | ▼-923 | 25387 | ▼-4,022 |
| Light Lambs | 0 | ▲0 | 7 | ▲6 |
| Total | 43659 | ▼-8,420 | 200531 | ▼-7,425 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – Week 4 (25/01/2021)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | Week 4 | Change prev. wk | 2020 | Change prev. yr |
| Avg Factory Price | 580.12 | ▼-21 | 502.04 | ▲78 |
| Avg Mart Price | 523.10 | ▼-23 | 429.88 | ▲93 |
| National Avg Price | 579.57 | ▼-23 | 480.39 | ▲99 |
| YTD Avg | 585.16 | ▼-2 | 477.28 | ▲108 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 23.01.2021 | 578.1 | 574.3 | Old season |
| 30.01.2021 | 560.3 | 558.4 | Old season |
| Change | ▼-18 | ▼-16 | |
| Price in c/kg (incl. VAT) | 664.8 | 662.6 |
